Alek Thomas

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Alek Thomas

|image = Alek Thomas 8.19.2023.jpg

|team = Arizona Diamondbacks

|number = 5

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|4|28}}

|birth_place = Tucson, Arizona, U.S.{{cite web |last1=Cheshire |first1=Catie |title=Highly touted Tucson-born Diamondbacks prospect Alek Thomas excited for future |url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/072921_thomas_diamondbacks/highly-touted-tucson-born-diamondbacks-prospect-alek-thomas-excited-future/ |website=tucsonsentinel.com |access-date=July 3, 2024}}

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = May 8

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = May 23, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .231

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 21

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 110

|stat4label = Stolen bases

|stat4value = 20

|baseball_ref= t/thomaal01

|teams =

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

|show-medals=no

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

{{Medal|Country|{{bb|MEX}}}}

|caption=Thomas playing for the Diamondbacks in 2023}}

Alek Thomas (born April 28, 2000) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022. He has played for the Mexico national baseball team.

Amateur career

Thomas attended Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He committed to play both college baseball and college football at Texas Christian University.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/high-school/ct-mount-carmel-s-alek-thomas-commits-to-tcu-for-baseball-football-20170211-story.html|title=Mount Carmel's Alek Thomas commits to TCU for baseball, football|first=Bob|last=Narang|website=chicagotribune.com|date=February 11, 2017 }} During his high school career he hit .423 with 40 home runs and 158 runs batted in (RBIs).{{cite web|url=http://www.beverlyreview.net/sports/article_ac6ada5e-6e5c-11e8-be25-9f11c6394579.html|title=Alek Thomas picks D-Backs over college|first=Tim|last=O’Brien|website=The Beverly Review|date=June 12, 2018 }} He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/6/4/18504763/mount-carmel-8217-s-alek-thomas-selected-by-arizona-in-second-round-of-mlb-draft|title=Mount Carmel's Alek Thomas selected by Arizona in second round of MLB draft|author=Staff Report|date=June 4, 2018|website=Chicago Sun-Times}}

Professional career

Thomas spent his first professional season with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and Missoula Osprey,{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/prospect-alek-thomas-reflects-on-first-year-c302761034|title=Prospect Thomas enjoys whirlwind first year|website=MLB.com}} batting .333 with two home runs, 27 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 56 games between the two teams. He started 2019 with the Kane County Cougars.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/sports/ct-abn-spt-baseball-cougars-st-0403-story.html|title='None of that fazed me': Mount Carmel grad Alek Thomas already making noise with Kane County Cougars|first=Paul|last=Johnson|website=chicagotribune.com|date=April 2, 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.morganton.com/sports/riding-double-digit-hit-streak-alek-thomas-named-midwest-league/article_071e76b8-8883-11e9-aa1d-0f360879e86d.html|title=Riding double-digit hit streak, Alek Thomas named Midwest League All-Star|author=Staff REPORTS|website=Morganton.com | The News Herald|date=June 6, 2019 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/sports/ct-abn-spt-baseball-kane-county-cougars-st-060719-story.html|title='Hard work paying off': Kane County Cougars outfielder Alek Thomas named starter for Midwest League All-Star game|first=Paul|last=Johnson|website=chicagotribune.com|date=June 6, 2019 }} In July, he was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/1991930/diamondbacks-selected-mlb-futures-game-daulton-varsho-alek-thomas/|title=Two Diamondbacks prospects selected for MLB's Futures Game|date=June 28, 2019|website=Arizona Sports}} In August, he was promoted to the Visalia Rawhide, with whom he finished the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-alek-thomas-promoted-to-high-a/|title=Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas: Promoted to High-A|website=CBSSports.com|date=August 3, 2019 }} Over 114 games between the two teams, Thomas slashed .300/.379/.450 with ten home runs, 55 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.

Thomas did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=Adler | first=David | title=2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled | website=MLB.com | date=June 30, 2020 | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled | access-date=February 9, 2025}} He began the 2021 season with the Amarillo Sod Poodles.{{Cite web|url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/07/29/hold-tight-highly-touted-diamondbacks-prospect-alek-thomas-excited-for-future/|title=Diamondbacks prospect Thomas excited for future|date=July 29, 2021}} In June, Thomas was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-futures-game-rosters |title=2021 Futures Game rosters |work=Mlb.com |date=June 30, 2021 |access-date=August 27, 2021}} He was promoted to the Reno Aces in August.{{Cite web|url=https://morganton.com/sports/local/alek-thomas-tearing-it-up-at-triple-a-level-in-reno/article_410bb040-1bc8-11ec-813f-1f47ca7c35bb.html|title = Alek Thomas tearing it up at Triple-A level in Reno| date=September 22, 2021 }} Over 106 games between the two teams, he slashed .313/.394/.559 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 29 doubles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/diamondbacks-top-prospects-2022-outfielder-alek-thomas-among-interesting-pieces-in-arizonas-rebuild/|title=Diamondbacks top prospects 2022: Outfielder Alek Thomas among interesting pieces in Arizona's rebuild|date=December 16, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2022/02/23/mlb-prospect-alek-thomas-nearing-arrival-arizona-diamondbacks/6915382001/ | title='Knocking down that door': Diamondbacks' prospect Alek Thomas nearing his arrival }}{{cite web | last=Buchanan | first=Zach | title=The Alek Thomas era of Diamondbacks baseball is rapidly approaching: ‘He’s going to be knocking down that door soon’ | website=The Athletic | date=February 24, 2022 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3147254/2022/02/24/hes-going-to-be-knocking-down-that-door-soon-the-alek-thomas-era-of-diamondbacks-baseball-is-rapidly-approaching/ | access-date=February 9, 2025}} He opened the 2022 season back with Reno, and hitting .277/.362/.495/.857 with 4 home runs and 14 RBI over 24 games.{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Steve |date=May 8, 2022 |title=D-backs call up No. 1 prospect Alek Thomas |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/alek-thomas-called-up-by-d-backs |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=MLB.com}}

On May 8, 2022, Thomas was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2022 |title=D-backs calling up touted OF prospect Thomas |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/33881378/arizona-diamondbacks-calling-touted-prospect-alek-thomas |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=ESPN.com}} On May 11, he hit his first career home run off Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins.{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2022 |title=D-backs' top prospect belts Alek Thomas belts first career home run vs. Marlins|url=https://arizonasports.com/story/3137263/d-backs-top-prospect-alek-thomas-belts-1st-career-home-run-vs-marlins/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=arizonasports.com}}

In Game 4 of the 2023 National League Championship Series, Thomas hit a pinch-hit, game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning to help propel the Diamondbacks to a 6–5 victory.{{cite web |last1=Piecoro |first1=Nick |title=DBacks even NLCS with 3-run rally in 8th fueled by Alek Thomas, Gabriel Moreno |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2023/10/20/arizona-diamondbacks-even-nlcs-8th-inning-rally-beat-philadelphia-phillies/71263329007/ |website=azcentral.com |access-date=October 21, 2023}}

International career

Thomas represented the United States at the 2017 U-18 Baseball World Cup and Mexico at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Thomas was named to the 2017 U-18 All-World Team after recording a .361 batting average en route to a gold medal.{{cite news |title=2017 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup star Alek Thomas celebrates first MLB home run |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/former-wbsc-u-18-baseball-world-cup-star-alek-thomas-celebrates-first-mlb-home-run |access-date=March 20, 2023 |publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation |date=May 13, 2022 |language=en}}

Personal life

Thomas' father Allen was the longtime strength and conditioning coach of the Chicago White Sox. His mother Marcella "has roots" in Sonora and Thomas has family in Agua Prieta.{{cite news |last1=Romero |first1=José M. |title=Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas is all in with Team Mexico at World Baseball Classic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/10/arizona-diamondbacks-alek-thomas-ready-for-first-world-baseball-classic/69994773007/ |access-date=March 20, 2023 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=March 10, 2023}}